Could these be Mini Strokes?

Question

I asked this question yesterday in General Health and didnt get many answers. Maybe someone in this Category knows something?

Mini Strokes or just migraines?

Every once in a while, I get these horrible headaches. I was diagnosed with migraines like 5 years ago. MRI showed small lesions on the brain and the test came back as possible MS. Dr said it was nothing. Im taking blood pressure pills for severe high blood pressure. I eat right and am a healthy weight. Here Lately when i get my "migraines" the right side of my face becomes numb and "droopy" I also begin to stutter and my right arm and legs just feel weird. I also have a black dot in my vision in my right eye now (its always there) does anyone have these symptoms with their migraines or could I be having mini strokes.( Im only 20 years old but have had blood pressure problems since the age of 12) I have an appointment with my dr in a month. Cant go any sooner because insurance doesnt kick in til then

Answer 1

I would listen to formerly.  You are a very complex case and difficult to sort out. You most definetly need another MRI of your brain.

Answer 2

The symptoms you describe are most likely caused by a "migraine" or "migraine equivalent". It feels very similar to a Transient ischemic attack or mini-stroke. I hope your primare care doctor sends you to a neurologist who should be able to sort this out. Meantime, make sure you keep your blood pressure under control. Take an aspirin every day.

Answer 3

Hey,

my dad suffered from mini strokes with no apparent reason however he did get diagnosed with cluster headaches so you should go get a second appinion, they might also test you for TIA

Answer 4

TIAs (mini-strokes) are caused by high blood pressure and plaque (mostly cholesterol) buildup on the blood vessels leading to the brain. If you eat healthy, it is not likely that you have plaque buildup. TIAs are a possibility, but I don't think that's the problem, so don't make that diagnosis too quickly. The dot in your vision is possibly caused by a blood vessel in your right eye that has ruptured. Your high blood pressure is a symptom of something more serious, and whatever that is causes lack of blood flow to the brain. Three doctors you need to see are a cardiologist, a neurologist and an ophthalmologist.

Answer 5

It can sometimes be a little difficult to sort out symptoms caused by MS, migraines, and transient ischemic attacks without an EEG, especially if you have a history of neurological problems and high blood pressure.  One thing that sorts out the neurological conditions conditions from TIA is the length of time that the symptoms occur.  Problems caused by TIA only last a couple of minutes, and then people return to normal.  Symptoms of migraine or MS typically last for longer periods of time, so if the symptoms lasted more than 5 minutes, it was probably not caused by TIA.  Another thing is that TIA symptoms - the place they occur and the sensations they cause - are rarely the same from one attack to the next, while symptoms caused by MS and migraine attacks tend to follow more consistent patterns.

If you think this could be TIA, start taking an aspirin once a day, and go to the ER ASAP the next time you experience the symptoms.